The Afrikanda project is the establishment of a complex high-refining production of titanium dioxide, niobium, tantalum and rare earth metals on the basis of the Afrikanda deposit (Murmansk region), operated by Arcmineral-Resources JSC (the deposit licence was obtained in July 2020 for a period until 2045). For these strategic metals, Russia today depends on imports from 80% to 100%.

The Afrikanda massif has a huge resource base: 52.2 million tonnes of titanium dioxide, 302.8 thousand tonnes of niobium and tantalum, 863.1 thousand tonnes of REM. The annual capacity of the project in the base case (1 million tonnes of ore per year) will be: 66.5 thousand tonnes of titanium dioxide, 3.155 thousand tonnes of niobium and tantalum, 3.345 thousand tonnes of REM concentrate. All three main commodities have their own unrelated consumers, which makes the project resistant to changes in selling prices.

A mining and processing plant and a chemical and metallurgical complex will be built at the deposit, and in the future a refining complex will be built to produce high-purity niobium, tantalum and separated REM.

Applications: titanium dioxide - varnishes, paints, plastics; niobium - super steels (including pipelines); tantalum - capacitors, alloys; REM - super magnets, batteries, electronics.

Drilling has been completed at the project, the main technical solutions (open pit, plant, tailings storage facility, infrastructure) and a situational plan have been developed, pilot testing and development of process regulations have commenced, and improvements to the chemical and metallurgical technology are being finalised.

The Afrikanda project is:
- One of the most rapidly realised projects for production of rare metals, including rare earth metals in Russia: geographical proximity to sales markets (Murmansk port and Kandalaksha); Kola NPP 30 km from the site, energy-demanding region; railway infrastructure directly on the site; availability of a hard-surface motor road 1 km from the site; presence of the Afrikanda residential village 1km from the site.
- One of the most successful sets of characteristics in mining: high grades of minerals; rare and sought-after minerals; compact size of the deposit area; mining operations without overburden, continuous ore massif with levelled grades across the entire property within the exploration boundaries; availability of developed infrastructure of the previous stages of development, availability of qualified personnel in the region of operation.
- Advanced domestic technologies for concentrate processing are easy to execute, have laboratory and semi-industrial testing, and are easily adaptable to different sets of end products (significant marketing opportunities for the project in its planning and development).
- The deposit's reserves were well explored during the Soviet era and were on the balance sheet under categories A-B-C until 1972, but were withdrawn due to the lack of cost-effective technology for concentrate stripping at that time. In fact, the current work is aimed at finalising the previously established reserves taking into account the development of new technologies for perovskite processing.

Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company Joint Stock Company (JSC Kola MMC) is a subsidiary of PJSC Norilsk Nickel MMC, a leading production complex in the Murmansk region, established on the basis of the oldest companies - Severonickel and Pechenganickel Combines.

The subdivisions of Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company are geographically remote from each other. They are located in the centre of the Kola Peninsula - in the Monchegorsk town (formerly Severonickel Combine) and in the very north-west of the Murmansk region - in the Nikel settlement and the Zapolyarny town (formerly Pechenganickel Combine).

Kola MMC is a mining and metallurgical facility that mines copper-nickel sulphide ores and produces non-ferrous metals, and is the nickel refining centre of the entire Nornickel Group.

Kola MMC's products include electrolytic nickel, copper and cobalt, carbonyl nickel powders, cobalt concentrate and precious metal concentrates. Its high quality is known worldwide and meets the most stringent requirements and international standards.

Severny mine is currently the largest mine in Nornickel's structure. In the near future, mining capacity will be developed to a depth of 730 metres. There are plans to develop even deeper horizons in the future. The "Minus 730" horizon ensures the mine's operation prospect until 2048. It is planned to start production as early as 2027. If we estimate all the reserves, it is about 400 million tonnes of ore. This means that with the existing annual production volumes, the mining and processing operations are secured for more than 60 years.

Nornickel has adopted an Environmental and Climate Change Strategy. The environmental programme of the Company's Kola Division is based on it.
In total, the programme includes 172 measures planned until 2031 with a total cost of over 54 billion RUB. Some of the measures are already being fulfilled.

The Sulphur Programme aimed at radical environmental improvement has been launched, under which the Smelting Shop in Nikel settlement will be shut down in 2020, and the Metallurgical Shop in Monchegorsk will be shut down in 2021.

While pursuing its environmental policy, Kola MMC adheres to the principles of openness and commitment to an objective, constructive dialogue on the state of the environment with all stakeholders. The Company's efforts in this area of activity have been favourably evaluated by international auditors of sustainable development standards, as well as by major comprehensive auditors of the main consumers of the Company's products abroad.

Kola MMC employs more than 7 thousand people. The Company observes and provides its employees with equal rights and opportunities regardless of gender, age, race, nationality, and origin. All employees have equal opportunities to realise their potential, and the main factor that determines promotion is solely an employee's professional qualities.

The Company has a personnel motivation system aimed at encouraging employees to increase labour productivity and achieve high production results, which contributes to the Company's development. This system provides for both material and non-material incentives.

The Company's social obligations to its employees are set out in the Collective Agreement. Currently, the Collective Agreement of Kola MMC is the most comprehensive in the Murmansk region in terms of social security.

Each employee of Kola MMC has the right to become a participant of corporate programmes and projects undertaken by the Company: voluntary medical insurance; the Employee Health Resort Treatment Programme; the Children's Recreation Programme; housing programmes; awards; financial assistance; the Accumulated Shared Pension Programme; corporate sporting events; New Year gifts for children; and the organisation of summer work teams of schoolchildren.

To fulfil current production tasks, the Company develops and trains its employees on an ongoing basis.
Nornickel Corporate University provides mandatory training for employees: training, retraining and upgrading of grades in the Company's working professions; preparation for certification of employees by Rostechnadzor in the areas of occupational health and safety requirements.
Specialists of the Corporate University conduct trainings and seminars for employees aimed at developing personal and managerial competences, such as: School of Masters - a programme aimed at line managers, addressing issues of personnel management in their departments; On the Way to Efficiency - a leadership programme, which allows them to develop in-demand managerial competencies and develop a real project, which can be further applied in production.

For convenience and continuous development, the Company has introduced a digital platform with courses and webinars with 24/7 access - Nornickel Academy. Each employee can log on to the platform at any convenient moment, either from a mobile device or a computer, to obtain new knowledge and skills.

The Company pays special attention to the digitalisation of processes and the development of digital literacy among its employees. For this purpose, the Digital Nornickel platform has been established and is in operation, which allows employees to immerse themselves in Industry 4.0. Such issues as digitalisation of processes, information security, and digital tools used in production can be studied

At present, Kola MMC continues to develop dynamically, making plans for several years ahead. This means that the Company constantly seeks modern and ambitious young specialists with fresh ideas and an active approach to work. Owing to the special programmes currently being realised, young employees join the company in start-up positions, gain the necessary experience and knowledge in the training process, which they later apply in their professional environment. In addition, students of educational institutions also take part in such training programmes, seeking to learn new things in the course of their internships and to become fully acquainted with their future profession.